Energy efficiency
Eliminating heat loss to maintain comfort
Veronica Leeke, proprietor of The Heat Loss Detector, discusses ways in which heat loss can be reduced to provide a warm and comfortable care home environment, thereby enhancing the wellbeing of residents and lowering energy costs
According to The Carbon Trust,1 the UK
healthcare sector spends more than £400 million per year on energy, some 72 per cent of which is used up in heating the premises. This is an immense cost to the industry and is eclipsed only by staff costs. There are currently more than 20,000 care homes in the UK and all are faced with the prospect of energy bills doubling over the next 10 years, a further burden on top of the huge rises already seen in recent times. Due to the nature of the industry and
the fact that the wellbeing of residents is of paramount importance, their surroundings must be kept at a
comfortably warm temperature at all times; there is consequently an intense and almost round the clock demand for energy. A significant proportion of heat generated can be wasted, but such losses can be reduced by as much as 20 per cent through energy saving measures,2
which of course can also
result in financial savings to the business. So, what are these energy saving
measures and how can a care home manager identify those that are relevant to their own establishment? Firstly, we must take a look at the fabric of the building itself.
It is crucial that a building is fully insulated over its entire exterior skin to retain maximum heat, yet often this is lacking at the junctions, the so-called ‘weak points’
Making savings In order to provide maximum comfort to care home occupants and to prevent unnecessary heat loss, unwanted draughts must be eliminated in all buildings to stop heat directly escaping, while incorporating controlled ventilation. Buildings must be water tight and condensation prevented from forming. They must also be well insulated to achieve a cosy thermal envelope that wraps around the entire building. This will result in a healthier environment for residents and staff, as well as prolonging the life of the building and saving on running costs. Draught proofing can result in a
reduction of up to 10 per cent in heating costs,3
and is generally straightforward
to implement, involving no particular skill; the materials required are extremely low cost and can pay for themselves very quickly. Common areas to focus on include loft hatches, poorly fitting windows and doors, pipe work leading outside, electrical fittings on ceilings and walls and ceiling to wall joists (Fig 2). Alongside eliminating draughts, it is
vital that there is sufficient ventilation, whether naturally or mechanically generated, in order to remove ‘stale’ air from inside the building and replace it with ‘fresh’ air from outside. This is particularly important where carbon monoxide and other fumes may result from fossil fuel burning stoves and boilers and to provide air for such appliances. Current building regulations must always be followed. Ventilation is also important where
Figure 1. Thermal image showing draughts pulling through from suspended timber floor underneath due to gaps around skirting
January 2017 •
www.thecarehomeenvi ronment .com
condensation may occur, such as in kitchen and bathroom areas and underneath suspended timber floors. As well as the unhealthy and unsightly effects of condensation, a building holding a damp atmosphere within its walls can require much more energy to heat.
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